Differential pressure air immersion washer-conditioner

ABSTRACT

An air washer and conditioning unit comprising a primary pressure chamber communicating at its upper portion with the discharge of a fluid pressure pump and having a lower portion immersed in a body of liquid through which the air flowing in the chamber from the pump is expanded and then uniformly discharged and distributed up through the liquid into a secondary pressure chamber embracing the primary chamber.

United States Patent Caldwell [4-51 Jan. 18, 1972 [54] DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE AIR IMMERSION WASHER-CONDITIONER [72] Inventor: William J. Caldwell, PO. Box 456, Independence, Mo. 63051 [22] Filed: June 15, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 48,873

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 745,171, July 16, 1968,

abandoned.

[52] U.S.C1 ..261/30, 261/122, 261/123, 261/124 [51] Int. Cl. ..B0lf 13/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..26l/77,30,121, 122,123, 261/124; 55/244, 255, 256, 257

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 66,749 7/1867 Springer et a1 ..55/256 154,352 8/1874 St. John ..261/122 1,004,329 9/1911 Winter.... ....261/124 X 1,767,292 6/1930 Knowlesw. ...261/122 X 2,064,833 12/1936 Howard 261/121 2,216,664 10/1940 Fremd, Jr ...55/256 X 3,429,676 2/1969 Gatza ..261/123 X Primary ExaminerTim R. Miles Assistant Examiner-Steven H. Markovitz Attorney-Beaman & Beaman [5 7] ABSTRACT An air washer and conditioning unit comprising a primary pressure chamber communicating at its upper portion with the discharge of a fluid pressure pump and having a lower portion immersed in a body of liquid through which the air flowing in the chamber from the pump is expanded and then uniformly discharged and distributed up through the liquid into a secondary pressure chamber embracing the primary chamber.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmnmmm masms SHEET 1 UF 2 ATTORNEYS PMEMEE JAN J m SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM U"- CALDWELL ATTORNEYS DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE AIR IMMERSION WASHER- CONDITIONER This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 745,171, filed July 16, I968 and now abandoned.

: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its preferred form, the invention comprises a pressure compartment divided into upper and lower pressure chambers, one or more fluid pumps discharging into the upper and lower pressure chambers, one or more fluid pumps discharging into the upper pressure chamber and providing a flow of air under pressure downwardly through a plurality of ducts which may be considered an extension of the upper or primary pressure chamber.

The lower ends of the ducts extend into a pan of liquid disposed in the secondary pressure chamber, the level of the liquid in the pan submerging the expanded lower ends of the ducts. Preferably, the expansion of the lower ends of the ducts takes the form of an imperforate conical portion merging into a perforated terminal portion disposing a perforated surface between the expanded imperforate discharge end of the ducts and the surface of the liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus embodying the principles of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 with the front side panels shown removed,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the air tubes and associated skirt and screen components, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the lower portion of the tube shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 1, is of rectangular form having a lower water pan portion 12, an upper primary pressure chamber portion 14 and an intermediate secondary pressure chamber portion 14 and an intermediate secondary pressure chamber portion 15. A partition 16 separates the chamber portions 12 and 14 which are enclosed by a front panel 18 (shown removed in FIG. 2), a back panel 20, side panels 22 and 24, and a top panel 26.

Top panel 26 has a suitable opening to receive the inlet 27 of fluid pump 28 shown with a vertical driven shaft 30 supported in the outboard bearing bracket 32. A pulley 34 is shown on shaft 30 for receiving a driven belt from a suitable motor, not shown. The fluid pump 28 is preferably of the construction shown in my copending application Ser. No. 662,615, filed Aug. 23, 1967.

Air to be conditioned is drawn through the inlet 27 by the fluid pump 28 to pressurize the primary pressure chamber portion 14 in the order of 4-6 inches of water gauge and the air is then forced downwardly through a series of air tubes 36 having their upper ends disposed in the partition 16. It will be understood that all the air drawn into the chamber portion 14 is discharged downwardly through tubes 36 into the secondary chamber 15.

As shown, the lower ends of the tubes 36 extend into the water pan portion 12 and, in practice, are submerged below the water level maintained therein and indicated at 37. Each tube 36, in its preferred form, has a solid flared skirt 38 in its lower end to expand the air flowing downwardly through the tubes 36. As an extension of each skirt 38 there is preferably provided a flared perforated skirt 40. The spaces between the perforated skirts of each air tube 36, as well as the spaces between the sides of the water pan portion 12 and such skirts, are filled in with perforated sheet material 42, the material 42 being expanded sheet metal, or other suitable perforated material.

As a result of this arrangement all the air being discharged downwardly through the tubes 36 is first expanded in the lower end of each tube in the solid flared skirt portion 38 and then uniformly discharged and distributed upwardly through the water in the pan portion 12 in the form of air bubbles which pressurize the secondary chamber 15 in the order of 24 inches of water gauge.

The conditioned air in the chamber 15 is discharged through a suitable opening 44 into the air box 46 where it may be heated or otherwise treated before being distributed through the air supply outlet 48. A hot water supply and return to coils located in the box 46 being indicated at 50 and 52, respectively. Chilled water supply and return for maintaining the desired temperature condition of the water in the pan portion 12 are indicated at 54 and 56, respectively. An over flow connection 58 is provided to remove dirt and dust and other foreign matter which may be separated from the air.

OPERATION The air to be washed and otherwise conditioned is drawn into the apparatus 10 through the air inlet 27 by the fluid pump 28 to pressurize the primary pressure chamber 14 and to uniformly distribute the air downwardly through the plurality of tubes 36. After being expanded in the imperforate skirts 38, the air is uniformly broken up and distributed by the screening material embracing the skirts 38 to pass upwardly in the form of air bubbles. An exchange of heat takes place between the air bubbles and the chilled water in the pan 12. Also, turning the air through as it flows between theprimary and secondary pressure chambers results in the deposit of dust, dirt and other foreign matter in the water of the pan 112.

In practice, the pressure of the washed and chilled air in the secondary chamber 15 is utilized as the sole means of distributing the air through the air box 46 and supply outlet 48 to the space to be heated or cooled. Some or all of the air from the heated or cooled space may be returned to the inlet 27 of the fluid pump 28 through return ducts, corridors and other well-known return structure.

lclaim:

1. An air washer and conditioning apparatus for treating air being recirculated in a space to be heated or cooled comprising a cabinet, a partition for dividing said cabinet into an upper primary pressure chamber having an air inlet connected with said space and a lower secondary pressure chamber having a discharge connected with said space, said last chamber including a liquid pan portion to receive a body of liquid, air tubes extending between said chambers and disposed in said partition with their upper inlet ends communicating with said primary pressure chamber and their lower ends communicating with said last chamber within said pan portion and below the level of the liquid body to be carried therein, the lower end of said tubes having downwardly and outwardly flared imperforate skirt portions constituted as a direct and streamline extension of the walls of said tubes to provide each tube with a terminal expansion portion located beneath the liquid level into which the pressurized air flowing downwardly in each tube directly enters and is expanded before being discharged into the liquid body, and a perforated skirt portion constituted as a downwardly and outwardly flared extension of said imperforate skirt portion of each tube whereby the pressurized air being conducted by each tube between said primary and secondary chambers is first expanded into said first skirt portion and then broken up by the perforate structure of said second skirt portion to be discharged upwardly through the liquid level in the form of air bubbles to pressurize said secondary chamber, said tubes as well as their flared imperforate and perforate skirt portions all opening downwardly into said pan portion as a continuous, unobstructed, open-end passage.

2. An air washer and conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 1, the air flow communication between the lower ends of said tubes and said imperforate skirt portion being direct and obstruction free.

i t v 1 t 1- 5 

1. An air washer and conditioning apparatus for treating air being recirculated in a space to be heated or cooled comprising a cabinet, a partition for dividing said cabinet into an upper primary pressure chamber having an air inlet connected with said space and a lower secondary pressure chamber having a discharge connected with said space, said last chamber including a liquid pan portion to receive a body of liquid, air tubes extending between said chambers and disposed in said partition with their upper inlet ends communicating with said primary pressure chamber and their lower ends communicating with said last chamber within said pan portion and below the level of the liquid body to be carried therein, the lower end of said tubes having downwardly and outwardly flared imperforate skirt portions constituted as a direct and streaMline extension of the walls of said tubes to provide each tube with a terminal expansion portion located beneath the liquid level into which the pressurized air flowing downwardly in each tube directly enters and is expanded before being discharged into the liquid body, and a perforated skirt portion constituted as a downwardly and outwardly flared extension of said imperforate skirt portion of each tube whereby the pressurized air being conducted by each tube between said primary and secondary chambers is first expanded into said first skirt portion and then broken up by the perforate structure of said second skirt portion to be discharged upwardly through the liquid level in the form of air bubbles to pressurize said secondary chamber, said tubes as well as their flared imperforate and perforate skirt portions all opening downwardly into said pan portion as a continuous, unobstructed, open-end passage.
 2. An air washer and conditioning apparatus as defined in claim 1, the air flow communication between the lower ends of said tubes and said imperforate skirt portion being direct and obstruction free. 